Author: Mark Long and Jim Demonakos
Genre: historical fiction/graphic novel
Similar books: March by John Lewis
In Real Life by Cory Doctorow
Rating:
 |
| one to think about |
Summary (provided by publisher): This semi-autobiographical tale is set in 1967. A white family from a notoriously racist neighborhood in the suburbs and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston's color line, overcoming humiliation, degradation, and violence to win the freedom of five black college students unjustly charged with the murder of a policeman.
The Silence of Our Friends follows events through the point of view of young Mark Long, whose father is a reporter covering the story. Semi-fictionalized, this story has its roots solidly in very real events. With art from the brilliant Nate Powell (Swallow Me Whole) bringing the tale to heart-wrenching life, The Silence of Our Friends is a new and important entry in the body of civil rights literature.
My opinion: While this book presents a complete plot, it feels almost like a vignette. We see character development, the influence of each event on the next. It's not all clear cut, though. Not 100% good guys fighting bad guys. We see various types and degrees of prejudice. Some plots are never fully explored and some characters are flat. It's beautifully rendered, though, and leaves the reader with plenty to consider.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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